U.S. President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard shake hands before their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington in this September 10, 2001 file photo. The former prime minister, a surprise witness to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, believes Bush deserves more praise for his response and for stopping further attacks. Howard was in Washington when hijacked airliners crashed into the towers of New York's World Trade Center, the U.S. Defense headquarters the Pentagon, and into a field in Pennsylvania. Among the thousands killed were 22 Australians. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files

Stories this photo appears in:

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's former Prime Minister John Howard, a surprise witness to the September11, 2001, attacks on the United States, believes former U.S. President George W. Bush deserves more praise for his response and for stopping further attacks.